Sturgill Simpson. Courtesy. If you’re unfamiliar with Sturgill Simpson, you’re coming in late to the game. The guitarist and singer-songwriter is a favorite collaborator in the Nashville country and country-adjecent scenes, with a bourgeoning solo career and a set of brass ones to take on this Nirvana classic and…

Primal Scream dropped this song last week, technically, but I’ve just now gotten around to talking about it because I’d been starting each morning by listening to it. “Where the Light Gets In” is the first track shared from the Scottish band’s 11th album, “Chaosmosis,” which will be released March 18.…

“Howling” by Cathedrals. San Francisco’s Cathedrals dropped a new track today as the duo of Johnny Hwin and Brodie Jenkins continues to work on its debut album. “Howling” is a slow-burning cover of the Frank Wiedemann and Ry X song. It was the first song the two arranged with their touring musicians, drummer…

The Dandy Warhols. Courtesy. It’s been a while since The Dandy Warhols released any new music (2012), but if their new label deal with Dine Alone Records and this song are any indication, a record is on the way. “You are Killing Me” has a mid-’80s to late-‘90s feel for…

Grimes. Courtesy. OK, fine, so this is a video. But I couldn’t even get halfway done to watching the entire clip before wanting to say something about this. Grimes is a terrific visual artist and her aesthetic here is “Mad Max” meets “Blade Runner.” While there is so much…

Agent Bla, Courtesy. What is it about Swedes making music that sounds deathly urgent? Here’s another great example. Gothenburg quintet Agent bla is composed of 16- to 18-year-olds and has released an EP and now this single. No word on a tour yet, but I’ll be keeping watch in…

Are you a fan of the Gaslight Anthem, and lament their fall from the spotlight of 2010′s American Slang? If so, here’s a song by DIY musician Jason Anderson, whose current project is simply called Tracks. This will recall all your best memories of “Stay Lucky” or “Boxer.” Anderson is currently touring with…

Craig Finn, courtesy. Craig Finn is better known for his work with The Hold Steady, but with “Maggie, I’ve Been Searching For Our Son,” he takes a page from the playbook of the great storytelling songwriters like Springsteen and Dylan, telling the tale of worrying about children at movie theaters…

Dirty Ghosts, courtesy: Liz Caruana. Since I last interviewed Allyson Baker, her San Francisco duo Dirty Ghosts has expanded to a trio, and it shows in its richer sound, which has shifted from noise pop and garage rock, to a more early ‘80s punk range. Siouxsie and the Banshees would approve.…

Mas Ysa (Thomas Arsenault). Courtesy. You know that scene in a movie, where, after suffering through trials and tribulations, our hero finally overcomes all of his obstacles and prevails? Here’s the song to score the moment. Mas Ysa is Thomas Arsenault, and with “Look Up,” he’s created an acoustic-electronic hybrid that…